𝙰 𝚆𝚒𝚜𝚑 𝙱𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙻𝚎𝚏𝚝 𝚄𝚗𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍 - 𝚇𝚒𝚊𝚘 𝚡 𝙵𝚎𝚖!𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛

𝙷𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜 ~ 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟷𝟸

Your POV

Instantaneously, I recognize where Xiao and I stand. My bag still lies messily on my bed, the contents peeking through slightly.

He unravels his arm from around my back and brings it down to my elbow. I don't know if he thinks that I'm too weak or tired to walk properly, but I don't protest his assistance.

Only when I prop myself up on my bed, do I realize how exhausted I feel. Normally, I would change into my loose nightgown and go to sleep. Depending on my mood, I might even make a journal entry. But tonight is different because Xiao stands awkwardly by the shoji screen that connects my room from its balcony. 

"Do you need anything?" he offers and I feel somewhat surprised. 

"I just have to change and then I'm going to go to sleep" 

"Oh- I'll leave then, to give you some privacy." Xiao turns around hesitantly and I act without thinking. I practically leap off my bed and stumble towards him, nearly knocking him over. "Y/n! What are you-"

When I grasp the idea of what I just did, I find both sides of my forearms in Xiao's hands. He holds me tightly against him and sighs before speaking. "Y/n, you are weakened and tired from our training. You should be getting rest. What is it you need-"

"Could you stay?" I blurt out and watch his face alter in split seconds. His blank stare changes to one of shock. Xiao's lips part slightly and I hear him inhale, regaining his usual composure. Less cold though.

"Please..." I whisper, feeling a bit flushed from my audacity to ask such a thing. I'm expecting him to shake me off, tell me I'm being ridiculous. Instead, he smiles so gently my whole body, flesh, and soul, warm. "Y/n, both you and I know that I shouldn't be spending a long period of time with you. I'm endangering-"

"Not if you're just being human. You'll only emit your Adeptal energy when you use your powers. I don't think this task will require that oh mighty Yaksha, Conqueror of Demons" I half-joke.

"You know, you're really making me want to take away those books of yours." Unable to help myself, I let out a small laugh. "I thought that you'd just bought them, not actually read them yet." He replies softly. "But nevertheless, you are correct and there is no rationality to argue with you." 

"Thank you, Xiao." I turn away and quickly stroll to my drawer, pulling out a loose nightgown. Despite how I can't see him, I can still sense his gaze drifting on me and every move I make. I run to the petite bathroom and change. Brushing my teeth and hair before coming out. 

The amber-eyed male stands by my desk, identifying the books I have organized neatly in rows. His orbs stop on one distinct title. "You've read Heart's Desire?" he questions me, almost as if I've been standing across from him this whole time. 

"Only the first volume. I was going to go back to Liyue Harbor to find the others later this week. Have you read any of Heart's Desire?" Xiao turns to face me and speaks calmly. "I have read all four volumes and in my opinion, Veiga is a fool." I barely stop a snicker from erupting in my throat. 

"At least we can agree on that." I comment, smiling. Xiao seems a bit taken aback. I think he was expecting me to disagree with him. "Even if I was completely heartbroken like Veiga, I'd never just wipe my memories clean to forget the sorrow. After all, people do say 'It's better to have lost than never to have loved at all.' and I agree with that." I state thoughtfully.

Xiao only snorts and begins his remark. "I think she's a fool for falling in love." I whip my head up and furrow my eyebrows, stunned.

A fool...for falling in love? 

He clearly notices my shock and confusion towards his perspective so elaborates. "She should've guarded her heart better. Her past 'lover', if you can even call him that, appears to become bored with her which is why he leaves her. Veiga believed that she knew him, that she loved him and he loved her." Xiao looks up at me and says coldly. 

"None of that was true. Therefore, I think that she is the fool of the story." 

I'm beginning to find, that my honesty increases a rather unhealthy amount when I speak to Xiao. I could probably ramble about my most embarrassing memory or my darkest secrets without realizing it. This habit comes into action again. "Do you think that all love is foolish, even for you...?" I ask him and turn slightly pink. 

He knits his eyebrows and although Xiao tries to disguise it, his answer does have a note of remorse in it. "Heartless people such as the man in the book and myself do not deserve and never will truly love someone." 

"I don't think that's true," I whisper as I intertwine my hands in front of me.

"Is that so?" he counters in a laconic voice. 

Cocking my head a bit, I respond. "You may be heartless, but you still have a soul and I think that's more pure and meaningful than a heart. Besides, you do have both. You may not show it all the time but when you do, you can distinguish almost as clearly as the moon." Xiao looks at me in a confused way but only sighs in response. 

"Enough of that, sleep now." I don't protest and veil myself quietly with my bedsheets. I watch through heavy eyes as he leans against the shoji screen across my bed. 

Xiao's POV

After about 30 minutes or more of standing in her room, my thoughts begin to analyze everything that just happened. Y/n may have schooled herself on the Adepti, or more so, me through books but that doesn't mean she actually knows who I am. Her sentiment was sweet but I feel guilty because I don't think she's right; no matter how much I want to think she is. 

"Y/n?" I call out and there's no response and I presume that she's fallen asleep. I pray that she is as I walk hesitantly towards her. Gingerly, I run my finger through her h/c locks a few times before grazing the soft skin of her cheek with the back of my gloved hand. I know I have to go, Liyue does need to be moderated but even the thought of doing such leaves a pit in my stomach. 

Leaning in towards her, I plant a small kiss on her forehead and linger there for a few minutes. I take in her breezy scent mixed with a spicy and sweet fragrance from the food she is around all day. I ignore the urge to stay near her but nearly fall into a trance as I'm about to teleport to the Harbor. Staying long and just close enough, I hear her mumble. 

"Xiao" she whispers quietly and a small, but visible smile plays delicately onto her lips.